‘Significant dangers’: Cops’ concern about climate blockade

NSW Police have raised the risk of protesters being injured as they attempt to stop a blockade of the Port of Newcastle later this month.

Police say they are concerned about the risk of climate activists being injured on the water as they attempt to halt a planned two-day blockade of the Port of Newcastle.

Environmental group Rising Tide has announced plans for a 50-hour protest of the seaport later this month.

The group has described the event as a “protestival” and “the people’s blockade of the world’s largest coal port”, with thousands expected to take part by using kayaks and watercraft to obstruct ships from entering the port.

Last year, more than 100 people were arrested during similar a 30-hour blockade.

NSW Police have launched proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court to have the protest deemed unauthorised.

The court heard that over the planned 50-hour protest period, an estimated 24 to 30 bulk carriers would be stopped from entering the port.

The protesters last year blocked the Port of Newcastle for 30 hours. Photo: Roni Bintang/Getty Images.

“And that is obviously the objective of the defendants, to bring about a situation where the Newcastle Harbour is closed, commercial shipping movements are suspended,” Barrister Lachlan Gyles SC, representing the Commissioner of Police, told the court.

“The second objective of the defendants is to create civil disobedience in order to draw attention to the cause.”

Assistant Commissioner Dave Waddell told the court that even if the port was closed, he harboured fears for the safety of people taking part in the on-water protest.

“I’m aware of the significant dangers that are associated with that sort of activity,” he said.

He said during a similar protest in 2020, 25 protesters were swept towards the Stockton breakwall after the tide and wind changed.

“In 2020 they paddled back, it took them two and a half hours to get back under some supervision,” he said.

Under cross examination from Neal Funnell, representing the protesters, Assistant Commissioner Waddell said that arrests were only made at last year’s event after protesters blocked the ports beyond the 30 hour protest period.

A flyer for the Rising Tide protest at the Port of Newcastle next month. Picture: Supplied.

He also raised safety concerns about people being on the water in darkness overnight.

It’s estimated that 5500 will take part in the protest, the court was told.

However not all will be on the water, with the protest to extend to the shore.

The event will also feature musical performances by former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett and John Butler.

Port of Newcastle harbourmaster Vikas Bangia told the court on Friday afternoon that any blockade would result in a backlog of ships trying to get in and out of the harbour, which would place stress on the supply chain.

It would lead to workers having to work overtime to clear the backlog, Mr Bangia told the court.

“It may take five to seven days to clear the backlog,” Mr Bangia said.

“People will have to work extra, no doubt about it.”

It is the second time in a month the NSW Police has challenged a planned protest after taking the organisers of a pro-Palestinian march to the Supreme Court.

Protesters outside the Supreme Court on Friday. Picture: NewsWire/Monique Harmer.

Justice Desmond Fagan, who is hearing the case, raised concerns about ships being able to stop once they are launched.

“Once these vessels are cast off from the dock, they are committed to be put to sea because they cannot return alongside the dock when fully laden because of their momentum and impact on the wharf structures, they are committed to the channel and they are entirely unremovable and, for all practical purposes, unstoppable in the channel,” he said.

“So any departure of a fully laden vessel, if the channel were in any degree obstructed, would be extremely dangerous.”

The matter will return to court on Tuesday, when the protesters will call witnesses in support of their case.